In our education project with Leonie Hentschel, we are embarking on a series of workshops with pupils from the Carl-Friedrich-von-Siemens-Gymnasium and the Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium to search for the 21 sounds.

‘21 Sounds’ transforms memories into sound. People who have to cope on their own, with little space and privacy, are given free ‘tools’ based on contemporary music to express themselves artistically and creatively and to create their own pieces of music in which they give voice to their personal memories and feelings.

The event begins with warm-ups and a short concert by the Zafraan Ensemble, which connects participants with contemporary music characterised by unconventional playing styles, theatrical elements, rhythm and emotionality. The participants then work in small groups, each accompanied by a musician, on developing their own pieces in 10 workshop sessions. The search for the 21 sounds begins: each person collects 5-7 personal sounds that are associated with memories, emotions or experiences. This results in an individual sound catalogue. Instruments, materials and everyday objects are used – new sound sources are discovered. The aim is to abstract the sounds, perceive their peculiarities and understand their effect. In a playful phase, the participants exchange selected sounds with each other to inspire one another. This turns composing into a social process: sounds are combined, rearranged and joined together to form collaborative compositions. This often results in surprising sound mixtures and creative connections – the so-called 21-sound compositions.

At the final concert on 23 June 2026 at the Theater im Delphi, all groups will present their works together with the Zafraan Ensemble, which will also perform the opening concert again. After the creative process, the participants will hear the music with new ears and experience how their own sound world has changed and expanded.

With:

Zafraan Ensemble

Project lead: Leonie Hentschel and Clemens Hund-Göschel.

With support by the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung.